Positive drive wrap delivery system

ABSTRACT

A module builder includes a wrap floor system including a wrap floor belt wrapped around a front belt sheave and a first drive system coupled to the wrap floor system. The first drive system includes a main drive belt coupled to a rear belt sheave and the front belt sheave, wherein in an engagement mode of operation the main drive belt is tensioned to rotate the rear belt sheave, and in a disengagement mode of operation the main drive belt loses tension to cease rotation of the rear belt sheave. The builder includes a second drive system coupled to a baler belt to drive the baler belt into a module forming chamber. The first drive system further includes one or more of a rear lower gate roller, friction wheel, wrap box roller, electric clutch, or motor to engage and drive the main drive belt.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/416,685, filed May 20, 2019, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a wrap delivery system for a roundmodule builder, and in particular, to a positive drive wrap deliverysystem.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Round module builders or balers use belts and rollers to manipulateharvested material into a desired form. A round hay baler and a roundmodule builder for cotton both typically use belts under tension runningon a series of rollers to compact the harvested material into acylindrical shape. In the wrap system, a first or rear set of belts areon a roller that is driven mechanically by a gear interacting with therollers contained in the wrap box of the module builder. A second orfront set of belts are individually driven based on contact between thewrap floor belts and the round module builder (RMB/Baler) belts. Thebelts operate on a set of belt sheaves and are not mechanically driven,but rely on friction. To apply enough force to generate adequatefriction to drive these belts there are typically a set of cam platesthat react against the main vehicle chassis. A common problem with thissystem is that it requires a certain force to generate movement, and ifthat force is too low, the belts will not turn and wrap mis-feeds occur.Another problem is the position of the front belt sheaves are in a waythat when the force is generated, the baler belt joint laces can damagethe belt sheaves. Once these sheaves become damaged, they can in turndamage the wrap floor belt resulting in total failure of the belt ordeterioration of system function. Additional concerns that users ofbalers have is wrap economy and wrap feed reliability.

Thus there is a need for improvement for wrap delivery systems.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a module builder,comprising: a wrap floor system, wherein the wrap floor system includesa wrap floor belt wrapped around a front belt sheave, wherein rotationof the front belt sheave moves the wrap floor belt; and a first drivesystem coupled to the wrap floor system, the first drive systemincluding a main drive belt coupled to a rear belt sheave and the frontbelt sheave, wherein in an engagement mode of operation the main drivebelt is tensioned to rotate the rear belt sheave, and in a disengagementmode of operation the main drive belt loses tension to cease rotation ofthe rear belt sheave.

In one example, the module builder further comprises a baler beltoperable in a module forming chamber; and a second drive system coupledto the baler belt, wherein the second drive system is configured torotationally drive the baler belt into the module forming chamber.

In a second example, the module builder further comprises a wrapassembly that stores a wrap roll of wrapping material, wherein the wrapassembly is configured to dispense the wrapping material from the wraproll between the baler belt and the wrap floor belt; and wherein theengagement of the wrap floor belt to the baler belt drives the wrapmaterial into the module forming chamber.

In a third example, the first drive system further includes a rear lowergate roller configured to engage and drive the main drive belt.

In a fourth example, the first drive system further includes a frictionwheel configured to engage and drive the main drive belt.

In a fifth example, the first drive system includes at least one wrapbox roller to engage and drive the main drive belt.

In a sixth example, the first drive system includes a plurality ofinteroperable gears to engage and drive the main drive belt.

In a seventh example, the first drive system includes a motor operablyattached to engage and drive the main drive belt.

In an eighth example, the wrap floor belt includes a plurality of wrapfloor belts that are operated by the first drive system.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a modulebuilder, comprising: a baler belt operable in a module forming chamber;a first drive system coupled to the baler belt, wherein the first drivesystem includes a rear lower gate roller configured to rotationallydrive the baler belt into the module forming chamber; a wrap floorsystem includes a wrap floor belt wrapped around a front belt sheave,wherein rotation of the front belt sheave moves the wrap floor belt; anda second drive system configured to engage the front belt sheave todrive the wrap floor system and to rotationally move the wrap floorbelt, the second drive system coupled to the rear lower gate roller,wherein in an engagement mode of operation the rear lower gate rollerengages the second drive system to rotate the front belt sheave, and ina disengagement mode of operation the rear lower gate roller disengagesfrom the second drive system to cease rotation of the front belt sheave.

In one example of this embodiment, the drive system further includes afriction wheel coupled to the rear lower gate roller to rotationallydrive the rear lower gate roller.

In a second example of this embodiment, further comprising: a wrapassembly that stores a wrap roll of wrapping material, wherein the wrapassembly is configured to dispense the wrapping material from the wraproll between the baler belt and the wrap floor belt; and wherein theengagement of the wrap floor belt to the baler belt drives the wrapmaterial into the module forming chamber.

In a third example of this embodiment, the second drive system includesa plurality of interoperable gears to engage and drive the front beltsheave.

In a fourth example of this embodiment, the second drive system includesa motor operably attached to engage and drive the front belt sheave.

In a fifth example of this embodiment, the second drive system includesa main drive belt coupled to a rear belt sheave and the front beltsheave, wherein in an engagement mode of operation the main drive beltis tensioned to rotate the rear belt sheave, and in a disengagement modeof operation the main drive belt loses tension to cease rotation of therear belt sheave. In a further refinement, the second drive systemincludes a drive sprocket coupled to a driven sprocket wherein thedriven sprocket is rotationally coupled to the lower rear gate roller.In yet another refinement, further comprising: a tensioner configured toengage the main drive belt to tension the main drive belt in theengagement mode of operation. In yet another refinement, the tensioneris positioned partially between the drive sprocket and the drivensprocket.

In a sixth example of this embodiment, the wrap floor system pivots toengage the baler belt during the engagement mode of operation.

In a seventh example of this embodiment, the second drive systemincludes an electric clutch configured to operationally engage the rearlower gate roller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner ofobtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself willbe better understood by reference to the following description of theembodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cotton harvester;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a round module builder;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of a wrappingassembly for a round module builder;

FIG. 4a is a bottom perspective view of a wrap floor system of the FIG.3 embodiment;

FIG. 4b is a bottom perspective view of a wrap floor system of the FIG.3 embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a drive system for theFIG. 3 embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a another perspective view of the drive system from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the drive system from FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is bottom view of the wrap floor system of the FIGS. 4a and 4 b;

FIG. 9 is another embodiment of a second drive system.

Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the preciseforms in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments arechosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciateand understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a harvester 10 according to one embodiment. Theillustrated harvester 10 is a cotton harvester 15. Alternatively, theharvester 10 may be any type of work machine that utilizes a wrappingassembly.

The harvester 10 includes a chassis 20. The chassis 20 is supported byfront wheels 25 and rear wheels 30. The harvester 10 is adapted formovement through a field 35 to harvest cotton or other crop. An operatorstation 40 is supported by the chassis 20. A power module 45 may besupported below the chassis 20. Water, lubricant, and fuel tanks,indicated generally at 50, may be supported on the chassis 20.

A harvesting structure 55 is coupleable to the chassis 20. Theillustrated harvesting structure 55 is configured to remove cotton fromthe field 35. Alternatively, the harvesting structure 55 may beconfigured to remove other crop. An air duct system 60 is coupleable tothe harvesting structure 55. An accumulator 65 is coupleable to the airduct system 60. The accumulator 65 is configured to receive cotton, orother crop, from the harvesting structure 55 via the air duct system 60.A feeder 70 is coupleable to the chassis 20. The feeder 70 is configuredto receive cotton, or other crop, from the accumulator 65. The feeder 70includes a plurality of rollers 75 configured to compress the cotton, orother crop, and transfer the cotton, or other crop, to a round modulebuilder 80. The round module builder 80 has a baler gate 28 and a balerfront 32.

While a round module builder 80 is shown and described as part of acotton harvester 15, this disclosure is not limited to such anapplication of a module builder. More specifically, other embodimentsconsidered for this disclosure include, but are not limited to, a pulltype round baler. A pull type round baler may not include a chassis,header, air system, and other components shown on the cotton harvester15. Rather, the pull behind round baler may have a hitch, wheels, and acrop pickup assembly coupled to the round module builder. A personhaving skill in the relevant art understands how the teachings of thisdisclosure can be applied to any round-type baler or module builder andthis disclosure is not limited in application to the cotton harvester 15shown and described herein.

Referring to FIG. 2, a module-forming chamber 185 may have a pluralityof endless belts 190 define the circumference of the module-formingchamber 185. The plurality of endless belts 190 are supported in aside-by-side relationship across a support roll arrangement comprising aplurality of fixed rolls and a plurality of movable rolls. Specifically,proceeding clockwise from a chamber inlet 195 where crop enters themodule-forming chamber 185, the fixed rolls include a lower drive roll200, a first separation roll 205, a second separation roll 210, an upperdrive roll 215, an upper front frame roll 220, an upper rear frame roll225, an upper front gate roll 230, an upper rear gate roll 235, a lowerrear gate roll 240, and a lower front gate roll 245 all coupled forrotation within the round module builder 80.

In FIG. 2, a conventional pair of transversely spaced belt tensioning orrockshaft arms 250 are pivotally mounted to a belt tensioning arm pivot255. The plurality of movable rolls comprise a first movable roll 260, asecond movable roll 265, a third movable roll 270, and a fourth movableroll 275, which extend between and have opposite ends, respectively,rotatably coupled to the transversely-spaced belt tensioning arms 250.As illustrated, one or more of the fixed rolls are driven to cause theplurality of endless baler belts 190 to be driven, with the drivedirection being such as to cause the incoming cotton, or other crop, totravel counterclockwise as it is added as a spiral layer to a growinground module 100. As the round module 100 grows within themodule-forming chamber 185, the transversely spaced belt tensioning arms250 rotate counterclockwise until a round module 100 having apredetermined diameter has been formed in the module-forming chamber185.

Along the rear portion of the round module builder 80 may be a wrappingassembly 90 that houses one or more wrap roll 280. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2, only one wrap roll 280 is shown positioned in thewrapping assembly 90. However, the wrapping assembly 90 is configured tostack multiple wrap rolls 280 on top of one another within a wrap rollhopper 282. The bottom most wrap roll 280 may rest on a front carryroller 284 and a rear carry roller 286. The front and rear carry rollers284, 286 may be coupled to a bracket (not particularly shown) thatallows the front and rear carry rollers 284, 286 to move along a linearpath towards, and away from, a lower wrap roller 288.

The wrap roll 280 may be a wrap material sized to cover the exteriorcircumference of a round module 100. The wrap material may transitionfrom the wrap roll 280, partially around the front carry roller 284,between the front carry roller 284 and the lower wrap roller 288,partially around the lower wrap roller 188 and to the lower front gateroll 245. Once the wrap material enters the module forming chamber 185at the lower front gate roll 245, the wrap material may follow theendless baler belts 190 about the circumference of the round module 100until the outer periphery is substantially covered with wrap material.For hay and forage balers, a cutting assembly (not specifically shown)may then cut the wrap material from the wrap roll and the wrap materialmay adhere to the round module to substantially maintain its form onceejected from the module forming chamber. In the illustrated embodiment,the wrap material is sized for individual portions from the wrap roll280 that do not require cutting device but are sized to adhere to theround module 100 to maintain its form once ejected from the moduleforming chamber 185.

In one aspect of the wrapping assembly 90 illustrated in FIG. 2, thewrap material is stretched as it extends between the lower wrap roller288 and the lower front gate roll 245. More specifically, one or more ofthe front and rear carry rollers 284, 286 and the lower wrap roller 288may be powered to feed wrap material from the wrap roll 280 to themodule forming chamber 185. Further, the wrap material may be pinchedbetween the front and rear carry rollers 284, 286 and the lower wraproller 288 as it is fed from the wrap roll 280 to the module formingchamber 185.

The powered roller 284, 286, 288 may send the wrap material toward thelower front gate roll 245 at a feed speed. The feed speed may beslightly less than the speed required to match the rotation speed of theround module 100. In one non-limiting example, the round module may havea twenty-three foot circumference and thereby require approximatelytwenty-three linear feet of wrap material per rotation. However, thewrapping assembly 90 may only have a feed speed of twenty-two linearfeet per rotation. In this embodiment, as the wrap material transitionsfrom the wrap roll 280 to the module forming chamber 185, the wrapmaterial is stretched as it moves between the lower wrap roller 288 andthe lower front gate roll 245.

Stretching the wrap material as it transitions from the wrappingassembly 90 to the module forming chamber 185 may provide for a tightlypacked round module 100 that has a high density and therefor transportsa large amount of harvested crop. Further, the wrap material may compactthe round module 100 so that it maintains the proper form. Properlycovering the outer surface of the round module 100 may also inhibitmoister from penetrating the outer surface of the round module 100.However, if the wrap material is not evenly distributed about the outersurface, the round module 100 may lose form and fall apart or becomesaturated with water or the like.

In one aspect of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the lower wraproller 288 may be rotationally coupled to the round module builder 80 ata first wall and a second wall of baler front 32 or the baler gate 28.As the wrap material is stretched between the lower wrap roller 288 andthe lower front gate roll 245, the central portion of the lower wraproller 288 may deflect towards the lower front gate roll 245 responsiveto the stretch force applied by the wrap material. This deflection orbowing of the lower wrap roller 288 may cause uneven distribution of thewrap material onto the round module 100. More particularly, the centerportion of the wrap material may be tighter than the edge portions asthe wrap material is distributed to the surface of the round module 100or vice versa.

Referring back to FIG. 1, after the round module 100 is formed andwrapped, a module handling system 330 may receive the round module 100.The module handling system 330 temporarily supports the round module 100and then discharges it from the harvester 10.

In operation, the harvester 10 is driven through the field 35 to harvestcotton or other crop. The illustrated harvesting structure 55 pickscotton from cotton plants in the field 35. Alternatively, the harvestingstructure 55 may strip the cotton from the cotton plants. Cotton istransferred to the accumulator 65 via the air duct system 60. Theaccumulator 65 holds the cotton until a predetermined cotton level isreached and then transfers the cotton to the feeder 70. In an exemplaryembodiment, the accumulator 65 transfers cotton to the feeder 70approximately four times for each round module 100 produced. When thefeeder 70 receives cotton, the plurality of rollers 75 are activated todistribute the cotton to a feed conveyor belt that transfers the cottonto the round module builder 80. The round module builder 80 uses theendless baler belts 90 to compress the cotton while forming the module100.

After the round module builder 80 receives compressed cotton, theplurality of endless baler belts 190 rotate the cotton into the roundmodule 100. After the round module builder 80 receives sufficient cottonfrom the feeder 70, the round module may be wrapped and the round module100 can be ejected onto the module handling system 330. The modulehandling system 330 supports the round module 100 and then discharges itfrom the harvester 10. The harvester 10 is adapted for movement througha field 35 to harvest cotton.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 a, and 4 b, a different embodiment of awrapping assembly 302 is illustrated. More specifically, the wrappingassembly 302 may have a wrap roll hopper 304 similar to the wrap rollhopper 282 described above. The wrap roll hopper 304 may provide forstorage for a plurality of wrap rolls wherein the bottom-most wrap rollcontacts an upper front wrap roller 306 and a carry roller 308. Both theupper front wrap roller 306 and the carry roller 308 may be rotationallycoupled to the first and second walls of 32 or 28 of the round modulebuilder 80. The upper front wrap roller 306 may be rotationally coupledto the first and second side walls of 32 or 28 about a first axis 310and the carry roller 308 may be rotationally coupled to the first andsecond side walls of 32 or 28 about a carry axis 312. Both the firstaxis 310 and the carry axis 312 may be defined through a fixed portionof the first and second side wall of 32 or 28. The first axis 310 andthe carry axis 312 may not move relative to the first and second sidewalls of 32 or 28 or otherwise relative to the round module builder 80.

The wrapping assembly 302 may also have a lower wrap roller 314 that ispositionable adjacent to the upper front wrap roller 306. The lower wraproller 314 may be rotationally coupled between a first bracket 316 andsecond bracket 318. The first bracket 316 may be pivotally coupled tothe first wall of 32 or 28 about a bracket axis 320 and the secondbracket may be pivotally coupled to the second wall of 32 about thebracket axis 320.

The lower wrap roller 314 may be pivotal about the bracket axis 320between a first position (as shown in FIG. 3), and a second position. Inthe first position, the outer surface of the lower wrap roller 314 maybe positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the upper front wraproller 306. More specifically, in the first position the wrap materialmay be pinched between the upper front wrap roller 306 and the lowerwrap roller 314 at a pinch point 406 (see FIG. 4). Pinching the wrapmaterial between the upper front wrap roller 306 and the lower wraproller 314 allows the rotation speed of the rollers 306, 314 topartially control the feed speed as is described in more detail below.

In one aspect of the embodiment of FIG. 3, the outer surface of theupper front wrap roller 306 and the outer surface of the lower wraproller 314 may be coated in a material that grips the wrap material suchas rubber or the like. The outer surface of the rollers 306, 314 maythen control the feed speed of the wrap material to the lower front gateroll 245 without allowing the wrap material to slip there between. Inother words, the outer surface of the rollers 306, 314 may frictionallyengage the wrap material as it is pinched between the respective rollers306, 314 at the pinch point 406 and as it travels from the wrap roll tothe module forming chamber 185. In this configuration, the stretch forcegenerated on the wrap material between the lower front gate roll 245 andthe lower wrap roller 314 may be insufficient to cause the wrap materialto slip between the upper front wrap roller 306 and the lower wraproller 314.

In one embodiment, a biasing member (not illustrated) such as a springor the like may be positioned between the first and second bracket 316,318 and the corresponding first and second walls of 32 or 28 to pivotthe lower wrap roller 314 about the bracket axis 320 towards the upperfront wrap roller 306. The force applied to the brackets 316, 318 by thebiasing member may increase the pinch force on the wrap material andthereby reduce the likeliness of the wrap material slipping therebetween during heavy stretch forces.

The biasing member may be any type of spring or the like known in theart and is not limited to any particular type. More specifically, thebiasing member may be generated by any type of mechanical, pneumatic,hydraulic, electrical or the like force. In one non-limiting example,the biasing member 402 is a coil spring. In another example, the biasingmember is a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical actuator. A personhaving skill in the relevant art understands the many different types ofbiasing members 402 that can be utilized to bias a pivoting member aboutan axis and this disclosure is not limited to any particular one.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, a first drive system 502 isillustrated. The first drive system 502 may have a drive sprocket 504coupled to a driven sprocket 506 via a chain, belt, or the like 508.Further, a tensioner 510 may be positioned partially between the driveand driven sprocket 504, 506 to ensure the proper chain tension ismaintained between the sprockets 504, 506. In one non-limitingembodiment, the drive sprocket 504 may be rotationally coupled to thelower rear gate roll 240 or any other roll of the module forming chamber185. In this embodiment, the ratio of teeth of the sprockets 504, 506may dictate the feed speed of the wrapping assembly 302 relative to therotation speed of the rolls of the module forming chamber 185. Inanother non-limiting embodiment, the drive sprocket 504 may berotationally coupled to a second drive system 509 which may be any typeof system such as mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical or thelike that engages and rotates the drive sprocket 504.

In FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, one form of the second drive system 509 includes afirst roller 511 offset a second roller 517 and a tensioner belt 515that wraps around the first and second rollers 511 and 517 to drive ashaft 521 of the drive sprocket 523. The belt is tensioned by the roller513 when the wrap floor engages. Other forms of the second drive system509 can include a friction wheel driven wrap system, one or more gearsthat engage shaft 521 or drive sprocket 523 to generate the inputmotion, a chain and sprocket arrangement, one or more of the wrap boxrollers, and an electric clutch, to name a few examples.

In FIG. 7, the first roller 511 includes a shaft 521 operationallyattached to a drive sprocket 523 that is coupled to a driven sprocket525 through a series of teeth on each of the sprockets 523, 525 thatengage each other. The driven sprocket 525 includes a shaft 527 that isoperationally connected to a rear belt sheave 529. The rear belt sheave529 receives a tensioner belt 531 that wraps around the rear belt sheave529 and a wrap floor sheave 533 to drive a shaft 535 of a second wrapfloor sheave 537. A wrap floor system 520, further described below,includes one of the second wrap floor sheaves 537 associated with eachwrap floor belt wherein each of the second wrap floor sheaves 537 isassembled with the shaft 535 that extends across a width of the wrapfloor system 520.

The driven sprocket 506 may have a shaft (not particularly shown)coupling the driven sprocket 506 to a drive gear 512 of the first drivesystem 502. The drive gear 512 may further be in contact with the upperfront wrap roller 306 that is in turn selectively in contact with thelower wrap roller 314.

When the rollers 306, 314 are in the first position, the rotationalmovement of the lower rear gate roll 240 rotates the drive sprocket 504.The rotation of the drive sprocket 504 is transferred to the drivensprocket 506 through the chain 508. From the driven sprocket 506 theshaft rotates the drive gear 512. The drive gear 512 rotates thecorresponding upper front wrap roller 306 and the lower wrap roller 314.Rotation of the drive sprocket 504 also activates the second drivesystem 509 such that the shaft 535 and the second wrap floor sheave 537rotate.

While the drive gear 512 is described as powered through a mechanicallinkage to the lower rear gate roll 240, the drive gear 512 or the upperfront wrap roller 306 and the lower wrap roller 314 may be independentlypowered. More specifically, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, or thelike motors may be coupled directly to any one of the above-mentionedrollers, gears, or sprockets to provided rotational power thereto. Inthis embodiment, a controller may communicate with the motor of therespective roller, gear, or sprocket to dictate the feed speed generatedby the wrapping assembly 302.

A wrap floor system 520 is positioned partially between the wrappingassembly 302 and the module forming chamber 185. The wrap floor 520 mayhave a plurality of continuous wrap belts 522 or the like positionedthereon. The wrap belts 522 and the wrap floor 520 may guide the wrapmaterial, in part, from the wrap roll to the lower front gate roll 245and ultimately into the module forming chamber 185.

The carry roller 308 may not be directly coupled to the first drivesystem 502. Rather, the carry roller 308 may be free to rotate as thewrap roll placed thereon rotates. In other words, the carry roller 308may be an idler roller that supports the wrap roll while simultaneouslyallowing the wrap roll to rotate as wrap material is fed to the moduleforming chamber 185. Further, the carry roller 308 may be spaced fromthe upper front wrap roller 306 to provide a cradle or the like betweenthe rollers 306, 308 to allow the wrap roll to sit thereon. The rollers306, 308 may maintain the proper positioning of the wrap roll whilefacilitating rotation as directed by the first drive system 502.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 4a, 4b , and 8, the wrap floor system520 includes a plurality of wrap floor frame supports 130 which providessupport for the wrap floor belts 522, which are located beneath theround module builder or endless baler belts 190 which move along thewrap floor belt 522, the lower rear gate roll 240, and the lower frontgate roll 245, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. Thewrap floor system 520 moves generally longitudinally along the length ofthe harvester 10 in response to an actuator (not illustrated). A wrap ismoved between the wrap floor belt 522 and the module builder belt towrap the cotton to provide a cotton module.

The wrap floor system 520 is configured to move longitudinally as wellas to rotate about a four bar linkage having a first axis of rotation140, a second axis of rotation 142, a third axis of rotation 144, and afourth axis of rotation 146. The first axis of rotation 140 is locatedat one end of a bar 148 which is rotatably coupled to a stationary framemember 150. The second axis of rotation is located at another end of thebar 148. The third axis of rotation 144 is located at one end of a bar152 rotatably coupled to a second bar 154. The fourth axis of rotation146 is located at another end of the bar 152 which also identifies arotation axis of the second bar 154.

The second bar 154 extends from the axis 146 to the bar 118 and iscoupled to an actuator (not illustrated) which is coupled to a fixedbracket 158. Movement of the actuator engages and disengages bar 118 andthus the wrap floor system 520 with the endless baler belts 190.

In one embodiment, the actuator is a hydraulic actuator which is coupledto a valve (not shown), the function of which is controlled by acontroller, such as a processor device, which when instructed, moves thehydraulic cylinder to start a wrap cycle. The controller includes amemory configured to store program instructions and the processor deviceis configured to execute the stored program instructions to adjust theposition of the hydraulic cylinder.

Movement of the wrap floor system 520, which includes the frame supports130, is generally along a longitudinal axis defined by the plane of thebelt 522. The second bar 154, however, moves in both a longitudinaldirection as well as an upward or inclined direction with the lower reargate roll 240 due to its four bar linkage configuration. The actuatorpushes the second bar 154, and consequently the bar 118 forward to theengaged position illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b . When the wrap iscompleted, the actuator pulls the bar 118 to a disengaged position andthe wrap floor system 520 returns to an unengaged position.

The bar 118 also supports a plurality of wrap fingers 160 which arefixedly coupled to and extend from the bar 118. Upward movement of thebar 118 directs the wrap finger 160 upwardly as well.

The second drive system 509 uses a positive drive source. In theillustrated embodiments, the wrap floor system 520 includes a single setof wrap floor belts 522 as compared to traditional systems that includetwo sets of wrap floor belts that work together. In the illustratedembodiment, the rear lower gate roller 240 is used to generate the inputmotion. The preferred embodiment is driven by the rear lower gate roller240, but any roller in the baler system could be used to generate theinput motion. The tensioner belt 515 is tensioned when the wrap floorsystem 520 engages for the wrap cycle, and loses tension once the wrapfloor system 520 disengages to cease the belt rotation. The input motionis then translated through a system of gears and belts to drive the rearbelt sheave 529 of the wrap floor system 520. The second drive system509 does not require any friction contact between the wrap floor belts522 and the baler belts 190 to generate rotation of the wrap floor belts520. Without the need for friction, the front or second belt sheave 537is in a location that reduces or eliminates the damage created by theendless baler belts 190 connecting component, sometimes referred asbaler belt joint splices. The tensioner belt 53 can be tensioned by anautomatic tension system that would allow dimensional changes in thesystem over time and use.

An alternative embodiment is a friction wheel driven wrap system. Inthis embodiment, there is a wheel of some material (plain steel, rubber,anti-slip type or coarse surface texture, etc.) that contacts rear lowergate roller 240 to generate the input motion. When the wrap floor system520 engages, the friction wheel would drive the wrap floor sheaves 533,537 similar to the illustrated embodiment. This could be translatedthrough a series of belts, chains and sprockets, gears or a directlydriven shaft.

Alternatively, an individual stand-alone motor or any other type ofdrive input could be used to drive the wrap floor system 520 and thewrap floor belts 522. In yet another form, the drive input could includethe rollers in the wrap box.

Illustrated in FIG. 9, is yet another embodiment of a second drivesystem 909 is illustrated. The second drive system 909 also uses aninput from the rear lower gate roller 240 (not illustrated) to generaterotation. The second drive system 909 includes an electric clutch 1000which would initially turn while the rear lower gate roller 240 isturning but is not engaged. When the wrap cycle begins, it sends anelectrical signal (current) to the electric wrap clutch to engage theclutch. The clutch then creates input rotation through a telescopingdriveshaft to the secondary wrap floor drive turning the wrap floorbelts 522 (not illustrated). The telescoping driveshaft is to allow thewrap floor to move through its range during the engage and disengagedmotions. When the wrap floor cycle is disengaged, the electrical signalis turned off and the clutch also disengages halting the rotation of thesecondary drive and the main wrap floor belts. In this embodiment, thewrap clutch is directly driven through a set of gears as the directionneeds to be reversed so the baler belts and wrap floor belts are movingin the same direction. A set of belts, chain and sprocket, or some othertype of drive to generate the input to the clutch from a differentlocation in the round module builder 80 could be used.

While this disclosure has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present disclosure can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosureusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

1. A module builder, comprising: a baler belt operable in a moduleforming chamber; a first drive system coupled to the baler belt, whereinthe first drive system includes a rear lower gate roller configured torotationally drive the baler belt into the module forming chamber; awrap floor system includes a wrap floor belt wrapped around a front beltsheave, wherein rotation of the front belt sheave moves the wrap floorbelt; and a second drive system configured to engage the front beltsheave to drive the wrap floor system and to rotationally move the wrapfloor belt, the second drive system coupled to the rear lower gateroller, wherein in an engagement mode of operation the rear lower gateroller engages the second drive system to rotate the front belt sheave,and in a disengagement mode of operation the rear lower gate rollerdisengages from the second drive system to cease rotation of the frontbelt sheave.
 2. The module builder of claim 1, wherein the first drivesystem further includes a friction wheel coupled to the rear lower gateroller to rotationally drive the rear lower gate roller.
 3. The modulebuilder of claim 1, further comprising: a wrap assembly that stores awrap roll of wrapping material, wherein the wrap assembly is configuredto dispense the wrapping material from the wrap roll between the balerbelt and the wrap floor belt; and wherein the engagement of the wrapfloor belt to the baler belt drives the wrap material into the moduleforming chamber.
 4. The module builder of claim 1, wherein the seconddrive system includes a plurality of interoperable gears to engage anddrive the front belt sheave.
 5. The module builder of claim 1, whereinthe second drive system includes a motor operably attached to engage anddrive the front belt sheave.
 6. The module builder of claim 1, whereinthe second drive system includes a main drive belt coupled to a rearbelt sheave and the front belt sheave, wherein in an engagement mode ofoperation the main drive belt is tensioned to rotate the rear beltsheave, and in a disengagement mode of operation the main drive beltloses tension to cease rotation of the rear belt sheave.
 7. The modulebuilder of claim 6, wherein the second drive system includes a drivesprocket coupled to a driven sprocket wherein the driven sprocket isrotationally coupled to the lower rear gate roller.
 8. The modulebuilder of claim 7, further comprising: a tensioner configured to engagethe main drive belt to tension the main drive belt in the engagementmode of operation.
 9. The module builder of claim 8, wherein thetensioner is positioned partially between the drive sprocket and thedriven sprocket.
 10. The module builder of claim 1, wherein the wrapfloor system pivots to engage the baler belt during the engagement modeof operation.
 11. The module builder of claim 1, wherein the seconddrive system includes an electric clutch configured to operationallyengage the rear lower gate roller.
 12. The module builder of claim 1,wherein the wrap floor belt includes a plurality of wrap floor beltsthat are operated by the first drive system.